I'll Bring Him Back Safe and Sound

In the desert, Ning Ke sheltered behind a large boulder, wrapping himself in the thickest spiritual energy barrier he could muster. Only after a long wait did the sandstorm finally end.

"Whenever a sandstorm strikes, even the demonic beasts in this desert have to take shelter. I hope your friends can make it through safely too, my lord..."

She-She had barely finished speaking when a sudden pang shot through Ning Ke's heart.

At the same moment, the Red Cloud Sword flew out of its sheath.

It let out a shrill, anguished cry.

[Host, something has happened to both Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao.] Xiao Yuan said, [They stumbled into the Demon's underground palace before you did. Lou Yunxiao fought desperately to get Ning Xiaoxiao out, but he fell into the Demon's hands himself. I'm afraid his chances are grim.]

Ning Ke clenched his fists.

The panic in his heart swelled, and he asked Xiao Yuan, Can you tell roughly where they are?

[The sandstorm threw you off your previous course. Head straight south now, and you should find Ning Xiaoxiao.]

"My lord?" It was the first time She-She had seen such a grave expression on Ning Ke's face.

He tried asking what was wrong, but received no reply.

The next moment, he saw Ning Ke stop conserving his demonic energy and head south at full speed.

Two days later, when Ning Ke found Ning Xiaoxiao, the little sand rat was tugging hard on the girl's hem, dragging her through the desert with great difficulty.

At the sight of Ning Ke, his little eyes went blank with shock.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline!"

"You're Lord Nine-Tailed Fox!" The suppression of his bloodline left him unable to muster any will to fight Ning Ke, but something occurred to him, and he still plucked up the courage to stand in front of Ning Xiaoxiao.

"M-my lord, she's only a little human cultivator. P-please don't hurt her!"

While they were underground, Ning Xiaoxiao had stuffed him into the Heaven and Earth Bag, sparing him from the Demon's oppressive aura.

The girl had protected him all along.

Now it was his turn to protect Ning Xiaoxiao.

"Thank you for your efforts." Ning Ke appeared before him in the blink of an eye, carried Ning Xiaoxiao to a flat patch of ground, and cast a Cleansing Spell on her.

Then he fed her a medicinal pill and channeled spiritual energy into her.

The little sand rat stared blankly at the scene, turning it over in his tiny head.

He could not help asking, "My lord, a-are you the big brother this girl keeps talking about?"

"Yes." Ning Ke had barely spoken when Ning Xiaoxiao woke.

At the sight of Ning Ke, her almond-shaped eyes flew wide, then instantly filled with tears.

"Brother-"

"Brother, Senior Brother only... only did it to protect me... It's all my fault... I shouldn't have stopped to rest... I shouldn't have thought I was clever enough to fight the red willows..."

Clutching Ning Ke's hem, Ning Xiaoxiao sobbed bitterly and stumbled through an account of what had happened, taking all the blame upon herself.

The sight of her breaking down cut Ning Ke to the heart.

"Xiaoxiao, this isn't your fault." He patted her gently and comforted her in a soft voice. "And Eldest Senior Brother isn't dead yet."

"My Red Cloud Sword and his Pale Silver Sword can sense each other. I can feel that he's only injured. His life isn't in danger."

"Don't worry. I'll go save him right now."

"I'll bring him back safe and sound."

The news that Lou Yunxiao was still alive eased Ning Xiaoxiao's distress a little.

She gritted her teeth, stopped crying, and tightened her grip on the Jinglan Sword. "Brother, I want to save Senior Brother too!"

"I can't just watch you put yourselves in danger while I do nothing!"

But Ning Ke lowered his eyes. A moment later, he looked up again and said, "Xiaoxiao, you can't come with me. You have to find the other disciples and tell them about the Demon, then hide and wait for the Secret Realm's exit to reopen in a year. Get out alive and tell the sect masters!"

"Leave Eldest Senior Brother to me. Once I've saved him, I'll come straight back to meet you all." Ning Ke had She-She climb off his hand and take the form of a python. "Xiaoxiao, go with him. He'll keep you safe."

Ning Xiaoxiao shook her head. "No! Brother, I want to stay with you both! Even if I die, I want to be with you!"

"Xiaoxiao!"

Ning Ke's expression hardened, and his voice grew stern. "Do you want to save only your eldest senior brother, or do you want to save more people?!"

"If you don't warn them, those disciples will all become food for the Demon!"

It was the first time Ning Xiaoxiao had ever seen Ning Ke lose his temper with her.

She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. "But, Brother... I don't want to lose you..."

She had a vague premonition that if she truly let Ning Ke leave this time, she might never see him again.

"Trust me." Yet Ning Ke smiled.

His brow relaxed, and his voice was gentle.

It was as though he could hold up the sky even if it fell.

He gently ruffled the girl's hair and said:

"Trust that I'll save Senior Brother, and trust that we'll see each other again."